Telegraph decipherer



Sept. 10, 1929. G. WEINSCHENKER TELEGRAPH DECIPHERER Filed April 18, 1928 Afro/mas Patented Sept. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES ENroFFlcE- G RIEL wnmscnnnxnnor nnwyonx, N. Y., Assisi-R TO CHARLES wnm- 'SCHENKER, NEW YORK STATE. I

TELEGRAPH DECIPHERER.

Application filed April 18,

This invention relates generally to telegraph apparatus and has more particular reference to a novel decipherer for telegraphs.

The invention has for an object the provision of a device of the class mentioned which is of simple durable construction, desirable and eflicient in action and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The device proposes the use of pivoted arms provided with feelers arranged for engaging in perforations formed in a telegraph tape. Printing letters are formed on the levers which are also provided with star wheels normally held stationary by a spring and engageable against a cam wheel when the feelers engage in the perforations for moving the lever to print and for disengaging the feelers from the perforations.

The construction of this deciphercr does not constitute an independent telegraph apparatus, but is intended for deciphering sig nals already received which are accumulated in the form of transverse perforations onthe telegraph band.

Without basic changes in the construction, it is entirely possible to have this device func-' tion also in conjunction with other different accumulating devices. On the attached drawing we can see a system for equal letters of a five-symbol alphabet, however, as mentioned, with very little changes it is possible to work with any specified code also, Morse included.

The construction of receiving perforators is not shown because it is entirely possible to work with any perforators in use at present, which have all in common a processwhere each letter is perforated with fiveholes and differ only in particular location of these holes on the band, as per drawing. Instead of changing the construction of the perforators it is possible to put through an already perforated band, through an additional ma chine which will punch through the, holes in blank spaces in transverse perforation but at a little distance in the front or rear of transverse perforations. In the construction shown, typing is done on a wide margin of the same band which serves for collecting of perforations, although it is entirely possible 1928. Serial No. 271,673.

to use thisinachine with two parallel mo ving bands, independent of each other. H

In deciphering devices in present use, there are at least 3.0 'of'the typing elements which must come in contact with the surface of the l paper band, so that they cannot all be located near the spot where actual typing takes place and naturally, there is loss of time. o This device lacks this undesirable, featureand at all equal conditions will work very much quicker with less depreciation. I

For further comprehension ofthe inven-, tion, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following dci scription andaccoinpanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a I material part of this disclosure: g 1

F 1g.;1 1s a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of a device constructed Fig. 3 this tape is'quite wide so asto have a perforated portion 13 anda printing por; tionld. This tape is so arranged that the portion 14 passes beneath the prop 11, and the perforated portion 13 along one side thereof. I I, t

'A plurality of levers 15 are transversely arranged in the casing and are pivotally mounted at their re'ar ends f on a shaft 16 supported in the casing. The front end of the lever is provided with a letter extension i elementf17 disposed directly beneath the prop 17 and beneath the tape portion 14, andhav ing a letterprinting portion on itstop sur-, face. The quantity of le'versand letters correspondexactly with thefquantity of symbols of code in the particular system, and are the feelers correspondingly arranged, the feelers fall thru the perforation thus lowering the lever 15. 4

This fall of the levers is aided by a spring 20 which is secured at one end to the casing 10 and at the other end bearsdown upon star wheels 21 rotatively mounted on the levers. A longitudinal shaft 22 is rotatively mounted in the casing and carries a drum 23 formed with one longitudinal tooth 24 and a cam surface 25 adjacent this tooth.

The tape 12 is so supported'as to be adapted to move forward in steps corresponding with the spacing of the code upon the tape, the length of the step being equal to the distance betweenthe code symbols. The drum 23 is adapted to be rotated tomake one revolution synchronized with each movement of the in-v termittently movingtape. More specifically the tape should complete one forward step during the first quarter turn of the drum relative to the position of the tooth of the drum being directly, beneath the star wheels.

Normally the star wheels 21 are out of the path of motion of the tooth 2%, but when the feelers of any particular lever 15 fall into its corresponding perforations in the tape, the particular lever moves downwards. Then as the drum 28 rotates, the tooth 24 catches the forward end of the starwheel and drags it p with it, turning it one quarter of a revolution. The new position of the star wheel is maintained bythe spring 20.

During the turning of the star wheel, the point thereof forcefully presses against the drum 23 and causes the lever-M15 to raise above 7 its original level so that the letter portion 17 particular star wheel or wheelsthat are turned by the tooth 24. During the remaining three quarterrevolution of the drum, the tape stops, the levers flowerthemselves so that thefeelers again press down, on the band,

and the device is in condition for the process to repeat.

The modified form illustrated in Fig. 1 discloses bent levers 15 and the feelers 19 are fixed directly to these levers. The said bent levers have a horizontal portion extending over they prop 11, and then a bent portion for supporting the letter extension 17 beneath the said prop. It is pointed out that in this arrangement the prop. 11 determines the downward. motion of the levers, in the event that the drum is removed for cleaning and there is no tape 12 in the device.

As noticed the movement of typing parts is very negligible what could be called important improvement in this system. The only fast moving part is the drumv which revolves very regularly without undue strain. Characteristic of this invention is that the symbols are typed not as they comein, and

not in; consecutive order, but with the passing of fixed systems of stipulated combinations under the series of feelers,

VVhile'I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructionherein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within, the scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States LettersPatent is V 1. In a device of the class described, a casing, a prop longitudinally supported therein, a plurality of levers transversely positioned and pivotally mounted at their rear ends, letter extensions on the front ends of the levers and positioned directly beneath the prop, a tape passing beneath the prop and adapted to beintermittently moved, and having a perforated portion alongside of. the prop, fingers projecting from the levers, feelers fixed thereto fand rest-ing against a perforated portion of the tape, a star wheel rotatively mounted on the lover, a spring secured onthe casingand pressing against the star wheel, a longitudinal drum rotatively mounted in the casing and adapted to be rotated, and formed with one tooth, and 1 an adjacent cam surface, the, drum being located directly below the star wheels so that the cam surface may slightly raise the star wheels and levers to free the perforated tape from the feelers, and the. feelers being arranged to fall into the said perforations when arranged in a certain order for lowering particular levers and star wheels so that the tooth of the drum rotates the star wheels, for forcefully pressing the letter extensions against the tape portion beneath the prop, and for raising the.

levers for withdrawing the'feelers from the perforations.

2. Ina device of the class described, a casing, a prop supported therein, a plurality of levers transversely positioned and pivotally mounted at their rear ends, letter extensions on the front ends of the levers and positioned directly beneath the prop, a tape passing beneath the prop and adapted to be intermittently moved, and having a perforated portion alongside of the prop, fingers projecting from the levers, feelers fixed thereto and resting against a perforated portion of the tape, a star wheel rotatively mounted on the lever,

' a spring secured on the casing and pressing against the star wheel, a longitudinal drum rotatively mounted in the casing and adapted to be rotated, and formed with one tooth, and an adjacent cam surface, the drum being located directly below the star wheels so that the cam surface may slightly raise the star wheels and levers to free the perforated tape from the feelers, and the feelers being arranged to fall into the said perforations when arranged in a certain order for lowering particular levers and star wheels so that the tooth of the drum rotates the star wheels, for forcefully pressing the letter extensions against the tape portion beneath the prop,

and for raising the levers for withdrawing the feelers from the perforations.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing, a prop longitudinally supported therein, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted at their rear ends, letter extensions on the front ends of the levers and positioned directly beneath the prop, a tape passing beneath the prop and adapted to be intermittently moved; and having a perforated portion alongside of the prop, fingers projecting from the levers, feelers fixed thereto and resting against a perforated portion of the tape, a star wheel rotatively mounted on the lever, a spring secured on the casing and pressing against the star wheel, a longitudinal drum rotatively mounted in the casing and adapted to be rotated, and formed with one tooth, and an adjacent cam surface, the drum being located directly below the star wheels so thatthe cam surface may slightly raise the star wheels and levers to free the perforated tape from the feelers, and the feelers being arranged to fall into the said perforations when arranged in a certain order for lowering particular levers and star wheels so that the tooth of the drum rotates the star wheels, for forcefully pressing the letter extensions against the tape portion beneath the prop, and for raising the levers for withdrawing the feelers from the perforations.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

GABRIEL WEINSCHENKER. 

